Pilots' families sue Biffle estate for $30M in fatal Cessna crash

The families of two pilots killed in a December 2024 Cessna crash that also claimed former NASCAR champion Greg Biffle and his family filed wrongful death lawsuits seeking $15 million each, alleging the aircraft owner failed to properly maintain the plane.

The suits allege inadequate maintenance of the aircraft Biffle owned and raise questions about crew certification — issues federal investigators are already probing, with the National Transportation Safety Board's final report still pending.

The Cessna 500 Citation II went down December 18 shortly after departing Statesville Regional Airport, killing all five people aboard. The plane struck the ground roughly one-third of a mile from the runway and burst into flames, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

The victims were Biffle, 55, his wife Cristina, their two children, and pilots Dennis and Jack Dutton. Dennis Dutton was at the controls at takeoff but transferred authority to his son Jack before the aircraft hit the ground, the outlet reported.

A preliminary NTSB report found the plane's altimeter was providing incorrect readings at the time of the crash, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. Investigators also found that neither Jack Dutton, who was in the copilot seat, nor Biffle held the required pilot endorsement for that aircraft type.

The wrongful death suits, filed on behalf of the Dennis and Jack Dutton estates, assert Biffle failed to ensure adequate maintenance and upkeep of the aircraft he owned. The NTSB investigation remains open and no final determination of cause has been issued.

Biffle was a decorated racing career across NASCAR's national series — he won more than 50 races in total, including 19 in the Cup Series, and held series championships in the Trucks Series in 2000 and the Xfinity Series in 2002. In 2024 he was recognized for humanitarian relief work following Hurricane Helene.

The NTSB has not yet released a final report on the crash. Until investigators determine an official cause, the liability questions raised in the Dutton suits will play out in civil court.